CCBC Presents THE MOJO AND THE SAYSO

Community College of Baltimore County Academic Theatre presents The Mojo and the Sayso by Aishah Rahman, a moving and lyrical drama about grief and the rituals of healing that a family endures to come together following a tragedy. Performances will be held March 8 - 12 at CCBC Catonsville, Center for the Arts Theatre, 800 S. Rolling Road. The Mojo and the Sayso is being presented as part of thePerforming Arts at CCBC Baltimore Stories program, a yearlong series about Baltimore told through dance, music and theater by artists in diverse genres who live in or have roots in Baltimore.

Inspired by the true story of Clifford Glover, a 10-year-old boy who was shot by the New York Police Department in a case of mistaken identity in 1973, The Mojo and the Sayso features the trauma faced by survivors of police violence. The family at the center of the play includes Awilda (played by Kaylah Crosby), a mother still grieving her young son Linus, who was killed by the police; her husband, Acts (played by Brian Horshaw), the boy's father; and Linus' older brother Blood (played by Ahmad Lake), being driven to desperation by the injustice of his brother's death. Acts has turned his energy toward restoring an old car in his search for relief from his grief, and Awilda has turned to the comfort of religion and relies on the guidance of pastor with intentions of his own (played by Tirrell Bethel).

The production is directed by CCBC Theatre faculty member Cohen Ambrose, with set and lighting design by Technical Director and Designer G. Maurice "Moe" Conn, and costumes by James J. Fasching. The production dramaturg is Connie Winston.

After the 7 p.m. performance of The Mojo and the Sayso on Friday, March 9, documentary filmmaker Yoruba Richen, daughter of playwright Aishah Rahman, will participate in a post-show discussion with the cast and creative team facilitated by the CCBC Office of Intercultural Engagement. CCBC is hosting a screening Richen's latest production, The New Black, at 1 p.m.that same day, which will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker. The New Black tells the story of how the African-American community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the recent gay marriage movement and the fight over civil rights.

The Mojo and the Sayso performance dates and times:

March 8, 11:10 a.m.

March 9 and 10, 7 p.m.

March 11, 3 p.m.

March 12, 10 a.m.

Tickets are $10 for general admission; $5 for seniors, students, CCBC faculty, staff and alumni; free for CCBC students with a current ID. Purchase tickets at the CCBC Box Office, 443-840-ARTS (2787), or online at TicketReturn.com Box Office.

*Photo Credit: Katie Simmons Barth

Baltimore Stories is supported, in part, by an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Each year, CCBC's Performing Arts department creates a season of work based on a common theme. For more information, visit the Performing Arts at CCBC web page or the arts blog.